Rafael Suárez is a drone journalist and content creator with more than 20 years behind the lens. He began in film photography in 1998, moved to digital in 2005, and has been flying and filming with drones since 2016. As a commercial videographer he has produced work for premium brands including BMW, Porsche, and MINI, and his documentary work champions a #flysafe mentality across the industry. Based in Quito, Ecuador, he covers drone news, hardware, and the policy and business shaping the industry for DroneXL, and shares reviews and cinematic flight on his YouTube channel. A dad and a lifelong aviation nerd, he's happiest when something is in the air.
A Detroit-based drone company just turned a very mundane problem into a surprisingly sophisticated aerospace application. Birdstop has deployed autonomous drones at two commercial truck parking sites in Detroit, using AI and computer vision to give drivers real-time visibility into which spots are open, as reported by Traffic Technology Today. It’s a pilot program. It’s…
The U.S. Navy just ran a live exercise off Key West testing whether drones and AI can find, track, and engage suspected drug trafficking vessels in real time, as reported by the US Naval Institute. The exercise wasn’t a concept demonstration or a PowerPoint briefing. It was a working kill chain with real hardware, real…
Let’s get one thing out of the way immediately: the DJI Flip is not a pretty drone. It looks like someone strapped a camera to a tiny bicycle and called it a day. I’ve stared at it from multiple angles hoping it would grow on me, and it hasn’t. But here’s the thing — it…
South Carolina lawmakers are closing a gap that’s been frustrating law enforcement for years. A bill dubbed the South Carolina Drone Regulation and Public Safety Act cleared a Senate committee unanimously this week, following a unanimous House vote last month, as the South Carolina Daily Gazette reported. If it becomes law, the state will finally…
The portable camera market apparently decided to have a group chat moment. In the span of a few weeks, five new pocket and compact cameras either launched, teased, or leaked their way into the conversation. If you create content alongside your drone work, strap in. DJI Osmo Pocket 4: The One That Started It DJI…
Vancouver Police Department officials confirmed they will use a robust drone program featuring DJI Matrice 400, Matrice 300, Matrice 30, and Matrice 4 series platforms to monitor crowd movements and support public safety operations during the FIFA World Cup 2026 matches at B.C. Place Stadium, as reported by CBC News. The announcement came as part…
DroneShield and Terma have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to collaborate on layered counter-unmanned aerial systems technologies, as EDR Magazine reported. The partnership combines DroneShield’s AI-powered detection and electronic warfare capabilities with Terma’s advanced command-and-control software to deliver more effective protection against drone threats. Announced on May 4, 2026, the s
Laredo Police Department officers arrested a 34-year-old man after he burglarized two vehicles early on May 6, with the RAVEN program drones playing a key role in locating him while he hid in nearby brush, as reported by LMT Online. The incident highlights the growing use of small tactical drones for rapid suspect apprehension in…
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